VICTORIA REGIA 



VICTORIA WATER-LILY. 



Nat. Ord. Nympu^ace^e. § Euryalele.— Polyandria Polygyria. 



Gen. Cka/r. Victoria, LindL Calyck tubus subglobosus, ovario adliccrens, ad oram in torum expansus, limbo 4.-partito deciduo 

 colorato. Petala numerosa, fauci seu toro calycis insertaj extcriora patentissima, calyccm supcrantia, interiora sensim ajigustiora 

 acuminata rigida staminiformia ; omnia basi in aunulum v. torum connata. Stamina plurima, subduplici serie inserta, fertilia ; 

 fdamenta subulata pctaloidca, sed rigida firma basi monadelpba, demum erecta : antkerm introrsK, infra apicem insert^E, lineari- 

 elongatEe, adnatae. Fdamenta iiiteriora subbiserialia stcrilia, basi monadelpha. Omrium inferum globosum, vertice concavo- 

 camt)aiiulatum radiatum centre rostratum, multiloculare, loculis uniseriatim regulariter in circulum dispositis, plurio^Tilatis, ovulis 

 parietaUbus, funiculis reticulatis affixis: stylu nulHs (in campanulam sulcatam fubum calycis vestientem connatis, Zw/^/.) i «^^y''^«- 

 tihus maximis tot quot locuHs, ad marginem verticis campanulati quasi articulatim insertis, lato-lauccolatis comprcssis carnosis erectis, 

 medium versus ad angulum inflexis deciduis dorso stigmatosis. Fructus baccatus globoso-campauulatus v. cyatliiformis, truncatus, 

 supra campanulatus, intus rostratus, phrilocularis, loculis polyspcrmis. Semina ovali-globosa, nucamentacea. 



^ Herba ingem, aquatica.fnviosplacidos Cisandinos America australis hahitans. Eadix joe^-maw ? id^s giganteis, natantihus, 

 orhiculatls, peltatis, planis, margine ubique elevatis, radiatim atque reticulatim nervosis, nervis suUus valde elevatis ; floribus 

 maximis speciosis alho-roseis, pedmculis longe extantihus ; petiolis, peduncuHs, ovaiiis, nervisque snUus insigniter aexdeatis. 



TicroEiA regia. (Tab. nostii. 1-4.) 



Victoria regia, ZeW/. iIib«o/?r. TictA^m. hied, cum ic. Bot.Reg.MiscA^^^.p.^. jyOrMgni/,inAn7i.desSc Nat 

 viz phi IFalp. Repert. \. p. 106. Schomburgk, in Views in the interior of Guiana, p, 2. frontispiece. 

 Hoot Bot. Mag., Third Series, v. 3. t. 4275 -4278. ^ ^ y ^ 



Victoria Kcgiua, Gray, in Mag. of Zool. and Bot. v. 2. 1838. _^. 440. 



Nymph^a Victoria, Scliomhurgh, in litt. 



EuiLYALK Amazouica, Boepp. inFroriep,Notizen, Z^.p. 9. Reise, v. 2. p. 432. 



Victoria Cruziana, BtOrlignij, I. c. p. 57 ("foliis utrinque concoloribus, pctalis cunctis concoloribus roseis.") 



Amongst the numerous eminently rare and beautiful, and, if we may be allowed the expression, royal jjlants, 

 which the discoveries of modem naturahsts have brought within the sphere of the knoATi Vegetable Kingdom, 

 it may truly be said that there is none which can be regarded as superior to that represented in the accompanying 

 plates. To be allowed, therefore, to exhibit such a flower, not only in its ample dimensions, but accompanied 

 with the details requisite for the full devclopcmcut of its structure, is indeed a privilege ; and doubly is that 

 privilege enhanced by the liberty of bringiug it forward %vith the name of the illustrious Individual who at once 

 sways the sceptre of her happdy United Kingdom, and pre-eminently so that of the element which this plant 

 inhabits. If it could be said, in reference to the royal ancestor of Queen Victoria, the Consort of His Majesty 

 George III., that the Strelitzia was peculiarly appropriated to Her, because of the patronage which she gave to 

 Eotany, by improving and embelhshing the Royal Gardens of Kew, much more docs the name of Victoria 

 claim to be handed doAvn to posterity on similar grounds ; seeing that Her present Majesty has been graciously 

 pleased to make these Gardens available to the pubhc enjoyment, and even to endoAv them with a liberal 

 provision for that especial purpose. 



It is true that the ndoria has not yet produced its blossoms in England ; but we have growing plants in the 

 Royal Gardens of Kew, which germinated from seeds brought from Bolivia by Mr. Bridges. These have hitherto 

 made satisfactory progress ; although we have our fears that the plant being possibly annual and the season 

 L^te (December), they may not survive the winter; or, at any rate, may not produce perfect flowers. Many are 

 the disappointments and delays of Science! It was not till after Tea had been used as a beverage for upwards 



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